Bat-forming mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet I'.

, Patented Ma`r.28, |899. M. swENsoN. BAT'FURMING MECHANISM.

(Application led Feb. 18, 1898.)

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No. 62I,952.

(Nq Model.)

No. 62l,952. Patented Mar. 28, |899. M. SWENSON.

BAT FOBMING MECHANISM.

(Application med Feb. 1s, 189s.)

(No Model.)

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ilNrri-g in STATES MAGNUS SVENSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN COTTON COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

BAT-FORNIING MECHANISNI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,952, dated March 28, 1899.

Application filed February 18, 1898. Serial No. 670,807. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom t nca/y concern..-

Be it known that I, MAGN'US SWENSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and' State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Mechanism for Forming a Bat of Cotton or other Similar Fibrous Substance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto an improved mechanism for forming a bat of cotton or other similar substance.

A bat-forming mechanism employing my invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with a rotary cotton-press of the type in which a bat of cotton is wound, under pressure, into a cylindrical bale. Heretofore the common practice has been to form the bale from the bat as it comes from the condenser; but this is objectionable for the reason that the construction and operation of the condenser limit the thickness of the bat formed thereby, thus forming a bat which is too thin and weak to be unwound after having been formed into a bale.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a bat-forming mechanism particularly designed for use in connection with a rotary cotton-press which will form a bat of such thickness and strength that after having been wound into a bale it may be again unwound.

In the preferred form thereof now known to me a bat-forming mechanism embodying leys mounted so as to be freely revoluble in such position that the adjacent sides of said belts or aprons will converge downwardly; means to actuate said belts or aprons so that the adjacent sides thereof will travel in the direction of their convergence, and means to pick or open the cotton as it is delivered to said hopper, said means comprising a pair of small driven feed-rolls, between which the cotton is delivered into the hopper, and a picker-cylinder mounted in such position that the ends of the teeth thereof will pass in close proximity to the surfaces of said feed-rolls and which is driven at a relatively high surface speed as compared with said feed-rolls.

The invention also consists of the various features, combinations of features, and details of construction hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings a bat-forming mechanism embodying my invention is fully illustrated.

Figure 1 is a front view of a bat-forming mechanism embodying my invention, the front belt or apron being indicated in diagram only. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, and Figs. 3 and 4 show in detail the construction of the belts of the hopper or receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, A A are belts inovably supported in such relative positions that the adjacent sides thereof will converge downwardly and the lower ends thereof will be separated by a space of desired width.

The belts A A may be of any desired or approved construction. As shown they consist of wooden slats o., covered with cloth a", preferably duck, canvas, or the like, said slats being secured to the links of chain belts c2. Said belts A A are supported upon sprocketwheels d3, to which the chain belts a2 are adjusted, and said sprocket-wheels cigare secured to shaft-s a4, revolubly mounted in proper position.

The belts A A are driven in such a manner that the adjacent sides thereof will travel downward toward theirpoint of convergence, as indicated by the arrows. As shown, said belts are driven by means of a belt A2, adjusted to a pulley'af, secured to one of the lower shafts a4, and spur-gears a6, one secured to each of said lower shafts a4, so as to engage with each other.

The sides of the space between the belts A A' are closed by stationary walls A3, which, together with saidbelts, form a hopper or receptacle inclosed on its four lateral sides and having a discharge-opening a7 at the lower end thereof. For purposes of convenient reference said hopper or receptacle will be hereinafter designated as a whole `by the reference-letter A4. .A ifa:

As shown, the shafts a4, which support or drive the belts A A', are supportedltllO l he frame of the end walls A3.

Revolubly mounted at the upper endof the hopper or receptacle A4 are a picker-cyl- IOO inder B and a pair of feed-rolls B'. The picker-cylinder 3 consists of a solid hub or body portion B2 and a plurality of piekerteeth l), secured therein. The feed-rolls B are preferably made as small as practicable, a desirable size therefor being about threeinches in diameter. The picker-cylinder B is preterably made much larger than the feed-rolls B', a desirablesize thereforbeing about eighteen inches (1S) in diameter, and said pickercylinder is so located relatively to said feedrolls that the ends of the picker-teeth h will pass in close proximity to the surface of said feed-rolls.

Rotary movement in the directions indicated by the arrows is imparted to the pickercylinder B and to the feed-rolls B. The surface speed of the feed-rolls is usually about the same as that of a condenser, while the picker-cylinder is driven at a much higher rate, a desirable speed being about six` hundred and titty revolutions per minute.

As shown, the bearings for the shafts of the picker-cylinder B and of the feed-rolls B' are formed in a suitable frame B3, supported upon the frame of the walls A3 of the hopper, said frame AB3 being preferably made ot east-iron.

In order to prevent loose cotton from being carried out of the top of the hopper or receptacle, said hopper or receptacle is provided with a suitable cover which extends between the side walls A3 thereof abovethe picker-cylinder B. As shown, the cover consists of a closed section B3, supported below the top of the picker-cylinder B, and of an open or screen portion B4, which is curved or bent upwardiy over said pickercylinder B and extends into close proximity to the upper feed-roll B. Preferably, also, the position of the screen-section B4 is such that the ends of the picker-teeth l) will pass in close proximity thereto. Said picker-teeth will thus operate to keep said screen-section clean, so as to allow air to escape therethrough. A considerable quantity of dust will pass through said screen B4, which is thus eliminated from the cotton.

The operation of my improved bat-forming mechanism is as follows: The operative parts thereof being first set in motion, cotton or other tiber is delivered between t-he feed-rolls B to the picker-cylinder B, which operates, in combination with the said feed-rolls B', to pick the cotton into a loose-tlntty mass, which is discharged into the hopper A4 beneath said picker-cylinder B and is formed into a coherent bat of any desired thickness and discharged through the opening a7 by the operation of the belts A A'. The thickness and strength of the bat depend upon the speed of the belts and the amount of cotton delivered to the hopper A4 in a given timethat is to say, if the speed of the belts is relatively slow compared to the speed of the condenser-cylinders the bat produced by and fed from the belts will be formed more slowly than the bat formed by the condenser-cylinders, and since it of course contains the same bulk ot cotton it is necessarily thicker, and consequently stronger. In this way I am enabled to operate the condenser-cylinder at a relatively high speed to accommodate a large number of gins and to operate the belts at relatively slow speed, so as to produce a very thick uniform and cohesive bat.

In the drawings I have shown, in connection with my improved bat-forming mechanism, the diagram of a cotton-condenser, the type of condenser shown being that known as a double-cylinder condenser. The circles O indicate the cylinders of the condenser, and C' are doft'er-rolls adapted to strip the bat of cotton from said condenser-cylinders, whence it passes to the feed-rolls B. In the drawings I have also shown so much of arotary cotton-press as will illustrate the application of my improved bat-forming mechanism thereto and which I will now describe.

D is a portion of the cotton-press frame.

D represents the stationary compressioncylinder, D2 the movable compression-cylinder, and D3 a bale ot' cotton in process of formation between said cylinders. The means for rotating the compressioncylinders and the means to generate the pressure on the bale are old and well known in the art and are not shown, as they are not necessary to the understanding of my present invention.

Supported above the stationary compression-cylinder Dl is what may be termed a feed-roll D4. As shown, the bearings for said roll D4 are formed in blocks d, fitted to guide-slots formed in brackets D5, secured to t-he press-frame D. Threaded through the ends of the brackets D5 are screws cZ, which bear upon caps D4, between which and the tops of the bearing-blocks d are inserted rubber cushions (Z2, which will obviously allow the roll D4 to yield slightly away from the compression-roll D.

The bat of cotton from my improved bat-- former is discharged through the opening a7 upon a guide or chute D7, which conducts it between the compression-roll D and the l'eedroll D4, subjecting it to a strong compression, which operates to felt the bat and also to force the air out ot it. The bat then passes around the core-roll ot the press, and the process of forming the bale proceeds in the usual manner.

It for any reason deemed desirable, my invention contemplates substituting 'for one of the belts A A a stationary wall. In case this construction is adopted said stationary wall will preferably be made substantially vertical and will be made very smooth.

I do not claim to be the inventorof a hopper or receptacle comprising two opposed sides which converge together, one or both ot' said sides formed by a movably-supported belt, for the reason that such a device is the invention of Villiam E.Andcrson ,application tiled July 12, 1805, Serial No. 555,733; but I IIO claim the same only when used in connection or in combination with means for allowing the discharge of the air from the cotton forced through the gin-iue,whereby the cotton will be deposited in said hopper in a light iiutfy state.

XVhat I claim isl. In a device for making a cotton-bat, the combination with the gin-fine through which the cotton is forced by air-currents and means for allowing the discharge of the air therefrom and for depositing the cotton ina light uffy state, of a hopper or receptacle into which the ber is delivered in such state, said hopper comprising two opposed sides which converge together, one or both of said sides being formed by a movably-supported belt, there being a discharg e-opening between the adjacent ends of the converging sides of said hopper, and means for slowly driving the movable side or sides of the hopper, whereby the cotton accumulated therein will be forced toward and out of the discharge-opening and compressed gradually so as to leave the discharge-opening as a thick, homogeneous and cohesive bat, substantially as set forth.

2. In a device for making a cotton-bat, the combination with a condenser for forming a preliminary bat, of a hopper or receptacle cornprising two opposed sides which converge to'- gethcr, one or both of said sides being formed by a movably-supported belt, there being a discharge-opening between the adjacent ends of the converging` sides of said hoppelgmeans for picking and opening the bat formed by the condenser and for depositing the cotton into the hopper in a light fluffy state, and means for driving the movable side or sides of the hopper ataslower speed than that of the condenser, whereby the cotton accumulated in the hopper will be forced toward and out of the discharge opening and compressed gradually so as to leave the discharge-opening as a thick, homogeneous and cohesive bat, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device for making a cotton-bat, the combination with a condenser for forming a preliminary bat,of a hopper or receptacle comprising two opposed sides which converge together, one or both of said sides being formed by a 1novably-supported belt, there being a discharge-opening between the adjacent ends of the converging sides of said hopper7 a pair of-feed-rolls between which the bat formed by the condenser is passed, a picker-cylinder having a plurality of picker-teeth arranged to rotate adjacent to said feed-rolls and to pick and open the bat formed by the condenser, and deposit the cotton into the hopper in a light fluffy state, and means for driving the movable side or sides of the hopper at a slower speed than that of the condenser, whereby the cotton accumulated in the hopper will be forced towardand out of the discharge-open ing and compressed gradually so as to leave the discharge-opening as a thick, homogeneous and cohesive bat, substantially as setforth.

4. In a device for making a cotton-bat, the combination of a hopper or receptacle comprising two opposed sides converging downwardly, one or both of said sides being formed by a movably-supported belt, there being a discharge-opening between the lower ends of the converging sides of the hopper, and the top of said hopper being closed to the escape of cotton, means for driving the movable side or sides of the hopper, and means for supplying cotton to said hopper in aloose and fluffy state, whereby the cotton accumulated therein will be forced downward toward and out of the discharge-openin g and compressed gradually so as to leave the discharge-opening as a thick, homogeneous and cohesive bat, substantially as setforth.

5. In a device for making a cotton-bat, the combination of a hopper or receptacle coinprising two opposed sides which converge downwardly, one or both of said sides being formed by a movably-supported belt, there beingadischarge-opening between the lower ends of the converging sides of said hopper, means for driving the movable side or sides of said hopper, means for supplying the cotton to the hopper by air-currents, and a perforate or screen section in the top of the hopper for the escape of the air, whereby the cotton will accumulate and settle in said hopper as a light mass,and be forced toward and outI of the discharge-opening and compressed gradually so as to leave the discharge-opening as a thick,hom'ogeneous and cohesive bat,substan tially as set forth.

C. In a bat-forming mechanism, the combination with a condenser, of a hopper or receptacle into which the cotton or other brous substance is delivered from the condenser, said hopper comprising two opposed sides formed by movably-supported belts, which converge downward, a discharge-opening between the lower ends of the adjacent sides of said belts, means to drive said belts so that the adjacent sides thereof will move downward toward their line of convergence, and means to pick or open the cotton delivered to said hopper or receptacle, said means coinprising feed-rolls andapicker-cylinder mounted within and at the upper end of the hopper or receptacle, said picker-cylinder consisting of a rigid body portion and a plurality of picker-teeth secured therein, and said feedrolls and picker-cylinder being supported in such relative positions that the ends of the picker-teeth will pass in close proximity to the surfaces of said feed-rolls, and means to actuate said feed-rolls and picker-cylinder, the top of said hopper being closed by a cover which comprises a perforated or screen section which is bent or curved over the pickercylinder in such position that the ends of the picker-teeth will pass in close proximity there to, substantially as set forth.

7 .In a mechanism for making cylindrical cotton-bales, the combination with a press for winding a bat convolutionally under pres- IOO sure, of means for making a cotton-bat, comprisinga hopper or receptacle into which the liber is delivered by air-currents in a light Iiuffy state, said hopper comprising two opposed sides which converge together, one or both of said sides being formed by a m ovabl ysupported belt, a discharge-openin g between the adjacent ends of the converging sides of said hopper, means to allow for the escape of the air, whereby the cotton will be free to accumulate and settle in said hopper as a light mass, and means for slowly driving the movable side or sides of the hopper, whereby the cotton accumulated therein will be forced toward and out of the discharge'opening and compressed gradually so as to leave the discharge-opening and enter the cotton-press as a thick, homogeneous and cohesive bat, substantially as set forth.

8. In mechanism for making cylindrical cotton-bales, the combination with a press for winding a bat convolutionally under pressure, of a device for makinga cotton-bat,eom prising a condenser for forming a preliminary bat, a hopper or receptacle comprising two opposed sides which converge together, one or both of said sides being formed by a 1n ovablysupported belt, a discharge-openin g between the adjacent ends of the eonvergngsides of said hopper, means for picking and opening the bat formed by the condenser and for depositing the cotton into the hopper in a light fluffy state, and means for driving the movable side or sides of the hopper at a slower speed than that of the condenser, whereby the cotton accumulated in the hopper will be forced toward and out of the disehargebpening and compressed gradually so as to leave the discharge-opening and enter the cottonpress as a thick, homogeneous and cohesive bat, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a cotton-press, of the type adapted to form a bale from cotton delivered thereto in the form of a continuous bat, of means to form a coherent hat of desired thickness, said means consisting of a hopper or receptacle into which loose or fluffy cotton or the like is delivered, said hopper comprising two opposed sides formed by movably-snpported belts, which converge downward, an opening` between the lower ends of the adjacent sides of said belts and means to drive said belts so that the adjacent sides thereof will move downward toward said discharge-opening, and a chute or guide to conduct the bat of cotton from said discharge-opening to the press, substantiall y as set forth.

l0. The combination with a cotton-press of the type adapted to form a bale from cotton orthe like delivered thereto in the form of a continuous bat, of means to form a coherent bat of desired thickness, said means consisting of a hopper or receptacle into which cotton or the like is delivered, said hopper comprisin g two opposed sides which converge downwardly, one or both of said sides being formed by a movably-supported belt, a discharge-opening between the lower ends of the converging sides of said hopper, means to impart movement to said belt or belts downward toward the discharge-opening, and means to pick or open the cotton or other fiber delivered to said hopper, and a chute or guide to conduct the bat from said dischargeopeningto the press, substantially as set forth.

11. rlhe combination with a cotton-press, of the type in which a bat of cotton is wound under pressure into a cylindrical bale, of means to form a coherent bat of desired thickness, said means consisting of a hopper or receptacle into which loose or iiuffy cotton or the like is delivered, said hopper comprising two opposed sides formed by movably-supported belts which converge downward, a discharge-opening between the lower ends of the converging sides of said hopper, means to impart movement to said belts downward toward the discharge-opening, and means to pick or open the cotton or other fiber delivered to said hopper, and a chute or guide to conduct the bat from said discharge-openin g to the press, substantially as set forth.

l2. The combination of a cotton-press of the type comprising a compression-cylinder supported in stationary bearings, and a coreroll and a compression-cylinder supported in sliding bearings, of means to form a coherent bat of cotton of desired thickness, said means consisting of a hopper or receptacle into whichloose or fluffy cotton or the like is delivered, said hopper comprising two opposed sides formed by movably-su pported belts which converge downward, a discharge-opening between the lower ends of the converging sides of said hopper, means to impart movement to said belts downward toward the discharge-opening, and means to pick or openy IIO bat from said discharge-opening to the press,

substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 15th day of February, 1898.

MAGNUS SWENSON.

Vitnesses:

B. A. J oHNsToN, JAS. Il. GIBSON. 

